Without adequate ventilation, warm, humid air becomes trapped in your attic. Trapped excess moisture can, in turn, cause a host of roofing problems. Hinkle Roofing, your trusted residential and commercial roofing contractor, lists them below:
- Mold – Trapped moisture creates a damp environment that’s the perfect breeding ground for mold, which can easily affect other parts of your home if mold-damaged roofing components are not removed immediately.
- Premature aging – Poor roofing ventilation can cause roofing shingles to age prematurely. It’s estimated that trapped heat and excess moisture can reduce roofing shingles’ service life by up to 20%.
Aside from roof damage, the trapped heat in your roof attic increases the strain on your HVAC system, which ultimately results in higher utility bills. That’s why it’s important to make sure your roof and attic have adequate ventilation.
How Much Ventilation Does Your Roof Need?
As a general rule, roofing systems with a vapor barrier need a square foot of roof vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling space while those without a vapor barrier need a square foot of roof vent for every 150 square feet. Keep in mind more ventilation isn’t necessarily better. That’s because the airflow in your roof and attic needs to be balanced.
What Are the Components of a Roof Ventilation System?
- Soffit boards – Soffit boards are located under the fascia board (the long straight board your gutters are attached to). They have holes that allow fresh, cool air to enter from the bottom part of your roof.
- Intake and air vents – As the names suggest, intake vents allow fresh air to enter your home while exhaust vents allow stale air to exit your roof.
Important note: keep in mind that not all air vents can provide the same level of ventilation. To learn more about which type of air vent is best suited to your home, consult one of your local roofing companies.
Looking for experienced roofers near you?
Hinkle Roofing has been offering professional residential and commercial roofing services to residents in the Birmingham area since 1908. To request a free estimate, call us at (205) 324-8545 or fill out this form.